Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1887-12-24
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Christmas.


is worth noting thar IN" spirit of
charitv and goodwill. which is tho
leading characteristic OF the happy
time. rervades them all. Some Of
the most interesting of Ties" ems
toms we will endeavor to briefly
describe.
In ENGLAND the custom ofstaying
nm TO midnight TO hear the Christ
mas waits is still observed. al
though many good penple II asked
tie question wonld find it diffirnit
to give Il reason Tor doing so. The
tradition that Christ was horn at
midnight originated this custom.
At ore time bands Of singers used
to rc abont from honSo to house
singing Christmas carols. These
were he waits and by degrees
tie quantity beautiful carols which
they sang deeenerated into mere
doggerel. and the custom for a
time fell into disnse. Latterlv,
however, it has been revived some
what. as also the custom Of sing
irg Christmas carols in Protestant
lriScona' churches.
In The fendal times when the old
parental halls g!oried in vast fire
places the bringing in of the Ynle
log. an entire trunk ola tree which
was burned whole. was a great
event and attended by peculiar
ceremonies and great rejoicing
The Teasing followed: the mighty
wmssal howl was introduced and
lie solid pleasures of the table
followed and were kept up with a
zeSt and ability to put away vast
Quantities of provisions that wonld
aStonish most people of the pres
ent generation. The central dish
was The boar's head, 1anked ny
othe. spells of the chase. at the
present day the crowning IDEAS of
Christmas pleasures i'll Fngland,as
iudeed.in everywhere else through.
out Christendom. are still the gios-
ser Joys of eating and drinking
The sroast beef and plum pudding
If Old England has a Yuletide
smack about it and solid plenty is
the characteristics Of Christmas
cheer at English tables. First
comes the savorv roast goose, which
is the recognized Christmas dish
among all classes, peers and Com
moners alike. and the plum pud
ding, which is brought in steam.
ing, causing young hearts TO re-
ioice and bringing in vista Of flu
ture st0machache ard physic TO
small boys. Throughout the land
Charity expands her wings, and
in all the large cities a general
movement is heartily made to let
the poor have at least enc good
dinner
In America the custom of hang.
ing up the stocking is as heartily
Observed as ever, and little boys
Hnd girls in town and country for
weeks before Christmas speculate
on what Santa Clans will bring
them. The North German custom
Of the Christmas tree has been
largely revived Of late year, and
in many households has become a
regular observance every year.
Both the Christmas tree and the
Santa Claus custom are the relics
OF .he days when THOR, Wooden and
Erica were worsl,iEea, but modi-
fed bv Christianity till they are
now emblematic OF the charitable
feelings OF Tie day Of gladness.
In France, many years ago, it
was the habit for pccple to step all
kinds of labor at noon on the day
before Christmas, and masters
kept open house and Toasted their
employees. 1t was also the fashion
for lie people To assemble on the
outside of churches and cathedralS
long before midnight: and the time
was passed away by singing Of
Christmas carols, the Monks teach
Jug them how to sing the carols as
vel! as the Latin canticies of the
church. As the Saturnallan ele-
ment began to come uppermoSt, The
carols became sUurrilons and OBJ
scene. and no regret WAS felt when
tie custom was done away with.
In sunny Italy he most visible
Characteristic is the excessive love
and devotion felt for the Virgin,
which shows itself in many quaint
ways. The whole scope OF the
teaching Of the Church tends to
make tbe people realize the birth
of Christ as an actual yearly oc-
cu1ience. This has led to the man
Hesitation of the piflerari, the bag
pipe players, who ale all from the
mountains of CalabIia. The pif-
tcrari divide themselves into three
bands. which march down the
streets, stopping at every Shrine
anl; pouring out wild music char
acteuzed rather by loudneSs than
melody. This is one of the sights
of Rene at Christmas time. 1t is
the mission of the pifferari to go
through the city and pray before
all lie Shrilles to the Virgin 10
cheer Her spirits while undergoing
the anguish of ACCOMPLISHMENT. In
Germany, Christmas is observed
with peculiar heartiness. There
Santa Claus has al abiding home,
AID the Christmas tree, with
its cheerful light, is i'oand in every
house where money can be raised
to procure it. Like the peopllNof